Clarkstown North's Nick Ovchinnikoff is the Rockland Player of the Year talks about playing his last year of basketball March 26, 2018.
Carucha L. Meuse /lohud.com

NEW CITY - Although Kenny Amparo coaches three sports at Clarkstown North High School, Nick Ovchinnikoff made certain he never forgot about one of them.

"I've never had a kid with his work ethic," said Amparo, the Clarkstown North boys basketball coach. "He pushed me at times."

Ovchinnikoff would nudge Amparo in the early morning and after school, eventually leading the coach to delay his football or track duties so his star could shoot. Ovchinnikoff even helped Amparo rehab from a shattered knee cap two years ago by pushing him up and down the court during joint workouts.

The three-year starter became the focal point for the Rams this season. He averaged 20.5 points, but continued to evolve as an all-around player, contributing 13.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.0 steals per game.

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Clarkstown North's Nick Ovchinnikoff, who is the Boys basketball county player of the year was photographed at Clarkstown North High School March 26, 2018. (Photo: Carucha L. Meuse/The Journal News)

Ovchinnikoff was a unanimous choice as league MVP and is now the first Clarkstown North player since Brett Harvey 12 years ago to earn the county's top honor.

"As a sophomore, I wasn't the best kid," he said. "I wasn't the most athletic kid. Over the years, I just stayed in the game and you could see the results after that."

Ovchinnikoff also developed a toughness that was best on display during a 72-70 double-overtime loss at Clarkstown South on Jan. 11. He scored 24 points and played one-handed to the finish after suffering what he believed was a broken right wrist in the fourth quarter. Ovchinnikoff could barely shoot free throws and couldn't shoot with his right hand otherwise. Instead, he attacked the basket relentlessly and even tipped in a key overtime basket with his left hand.

"I didn’t think I could find another level of respect for him," Amparo said. "After that game, I just (looked) at him and said, ‘Man, thank you for staying in.’"

After Ovchinnikoff learned later that night his wrist was just sprained, he missed only one game. In fact, he returned two days later and scorched Hastings for 37 points.